Bending Rolls

[BaldricParticipant @baldric]

I have a few jobs to do on my 3″ Foden build, that will require bending some sheet material. I have been looking at the GH Thomas design, as designed they are not wide enough, I need 12″. Are there any other plans for similar rolls? I could just make them bigger, but not sure on the diameter of rolls that I would require to cope with the extra length & thickness.

Requirements are

Copper, 3.25mm x 300mm, OD 6 1/4″

Steel, 1.22mm x 235mm, ID 1 7/8″

Rather than roll the copper, I guess I could create a wooden former to create a tube, but will the original design cope with the steel that size?

Thanks,

Mark

[Andrew CrowParticipant @andrewcrow91475]

Hi Mark, you could upscale the GHT design by say 25% which would give you a width of about 312mm, the actual size of the rollers would depend on the centres of the gears that you use. The 20dp gears used in the original design should be OK if you make them from something like EN8 but obviously would need more teeth to accommodate larger diameter rollers.

Andy

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

I made my GHT rolls 12″ wide, rather than the 10″ as designed. No problem there. Mine don’t have gears as that suggested improvement hadn’t appeared then. However, I think that even the geared version might struggle with your work. The copper is on the thick side and the steel requires a tight radius. Only my guess though.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Mark,

When I made mine I used 30mm x 330mm silver steel from Cromwell/Zoro.  I drilled the ends and inserted the bearing ends, retained with Loctite.  I used the gears as specified by GHT, making my own from FC steel and they are perfectly satisfactory.

I’m not sure whether they would roll copper that thick, even if well annealed.

HTH,

Rod

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Made mine from 50cc motor cycle fork stanchions  and are about 15″ long with  extended end shafts with keys so you can fit short rolls with grooves/shapes etc.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

I doubt that whats been mentioned will do the copper and may well struggle with the steel at that radius. Far it out to a company with the proper gear may be best. If your near me I have a set you could use, or try .  Noel.

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